Instead, the Brazilian, who’s No. 4 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, is still heading and biding his time for a return. He hopes to get back into the cage in late November or early December.

Now, there could be a few bodies in front of him on the heavyweight ladder. No. 2-ranked Fabricio Werdum (21-6-1 MMA, 9-3 UFC) returned to the win column at UFC 203 after losing his belt to No. 1 Miocic, and No. 3 Velasquez (14-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) beat Werdum to the punch in trouncing No. 10 Travis Browne (18-5-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) in July at UFC 200.

“I want to fight all of them if I need to, but what I really want is that belt,” Dos Santos said. “Of course, everybody is here for that belt. But I really believe I can be the champion again.”

Dos Santos can separate his professional aspirations from his personal assessment of Miocic, whom he praises for his skills in the cage and his demeanor outside it.

“I know people like to see those guys who talk a lot, who promote the fight,” Dos Santos said. “But we don’t need that kind of energy, and I’m glad Stipe Miocic is the champion right now.

“And he will be, until I get there.”

To hear the whole interview with Dos Santos, click on the video below.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.